Storage container made of bamboo strips

ABSTRACT

A storage container having a container body and a cover plate for covering the container body, the container body and the cover plate being respectively made of interlaced bamboo strips, the container body having a tongue and an endless groove respectively provided at the top and bottom sides so that two container bodies of the same design can be arranged in a stack by engaging the tongue of one container body into the endless groove of the other, the cover plate having a tongue downwardly protruded from the bottom side for engaging the endless groove of the container body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to containers and, more particularly, to storage containers made of bamboo strips.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Conventional storage containers may be made of different materials such as ceramics, glass, wood, plastics, stainless steel, etc. In order to attract consumers to buy, the outer appearance design of a basket is important. A storage container of wooden material is a great favorite of consumers for the advantage of its ancient-style beauty. Bamboo materials can also be used for making furniture instead of wooden materials to produce an ancient-style beauty. However, few manufacturers use bamboo materials to make storage containers for keeping jewelry or small personal items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a storage container, which is made of bamboo strips. It is another object of the present invention to provide a storage container, which can be used as storage means for keeping personal precious items as well as a display item for decoration. According to one aspect of the present invention, the storage container comprises at least one container body and a cover plate respectively made of interlaced bamboo strips. According to another aspect of the present invention, each container body has a tongue and an endless groove respectively provided at the top and bottom sides so that two container bodies can be arranged in a stack by engaging the tongue of one container body into the endless groove of the other. According to still another aspect of the present invention, the cover plate has a tongue downwardly protruded from the bottom side for engaging the endless groove of the container body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a storage container according to the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 2 is another exploded view of the storage container shown in FIG. 1.

[0008]FIG. 3 is an applied view of the present invention, showing the cover plate used as a tee pan.

[0009]FIG. 4 is another applied view of the present invention, showing the cover plate used as a wall-mounting flower rack.

[0010]FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the positioning structure between two container bodies and between the cover plate and one container body according to the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing another design of positioning structure between two container bodies and between the cover plate and one container body according to the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 7 is an exploded view of one small rectangular container body, one big rectangular container body, and one cover plate according to the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 8 is an elevational view showing a plurality of big rectangular container bodies arranged in a stack and covered with a cover plate, a plurality of small rectangular container bodies respectively inserted in the big rectangular container bodies, and a holder hung on one side of the stack of big rectangular container bodies according to the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a rack formed of a stack of big rectangular containers according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, a storage container is shown comprised of a rectangular container body 1 and a rectangular cover plate 2. The container body 1 has four side panels respectively made of interlaced bamboo strips. The cover plate 2 is made of interlaced bamboo strips. A coupling structure is provided at the top side of the container body 1 and the bottom side of the cover plate 2 for enabling the cover 2 to be positively secured to the container body 1 when covered on the container body 1. The coupling structure comprises a first coupling device 11 provided at the top side of the container body 1, and a second coupling device 21 provided at the bottom side of the cover plate 2 (see also FIG. 5).

[0016] Referring to FIG. 2, pin holes 12 are formed in the four corners of each side panel of the container body 11 so that the side panels of the container body 1 can be fastened to one another by locating pins 13.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 3, the cover plate 2 can be used independently as a tea pan for holding tee cups.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 4, the cover plate 2 can be hung on the wall and used as a flower rack or the like.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 1 again, the first coupling device 11 and the second coupling device 21 are flanges respectively protruded from the top side of the container body 1 and the bottom side of the cover plate 1, and the flanges 11 and 12 are abutted against each other to secure the container body 1 and the cover plate 2 together by friction resistance when the cover plate 1 covered on the container body 1. Further, a coupling device 14 similar to the second coupling device 21 of the cover plate 2 is provided at the bottom side of the container body 1 such that multiple container bodies 1 can be connected to one another and arranged in a stack.

[0020]FIG. 6 shows an alternate form of the present invention. According to this alternate form, each container body 1 has an endless groove 15 in the top side and a tongue 16 protruded from the bottom side corresponding to the endless groove 15, and the cover plate 2 has a tongue 22 protruded from the bottom side of the cover plate 2. By means of engaging the tongue 22 into the endless groove 15, the cover plate 2 is secured to one container body 1. By means of engaging the tongue 16 of one container body 1 into the endless groove 15 of another, two container bodies 1 are fastened together and arranged in a stack.

[0021] A big rectangular container body 1′ is provided having three side panels and covered with a cover plate 2, and a small rectangular container body 1 is provided having four side panels and insertable in the big rectangular container body 1. The big rectangular container body 1′ has a coupling flange 11′ upwardly protruded from the top side for abutting against the downwardly extended coupling flange (not shown) of the cover plate 2.

[0022]FIG. 8 shows a plurality of big rectangular container bodies 1′ arranged in a stack and covered with a cover plate 2, a plurality of small rectangular container bodies 1 respectively inserted in the big rectangular container bodies 1′, and a holder 3 hung on one side of the stack of big rectangular container bodies 1′.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 9, a plurality of big rectangular container bodies 1′ are arranged in a stack, forming a cabinet.

[0024] A prototype of storage container made of bamboo strips has been constructed with the features of the annexed drawings of FIGS. 1˜9. The storage container made of bamboo strips functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.

[0025] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What the invention claimed is:
 1. A storage container comprising at least one container body and a cover plate for covering one of said at least one container body, wherein said at least one container body and said cover plate are respectively made of interlaced bamboo strips; said at least one container body each have a tongue and an endless groove respectively provided at top and bottom sides thereof so that two container bodies can be arranged in a stack by engaging the tongue of one container body into the endless groove of the other; said cover plate has a tongue downwardly protruded from a bottom side thereof for engaging the endless groove of one of said at least one container body.
 2. The storage container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one container body each comprises a plurality of side panels and a plurality of locating pins, which fasten said side panels to one another.
 3. A storage container comprising at least one container body and a cover plate for covering one of said at least one container body, wherein said at least one container body and said cover plate are respectively made of interlaced bamboo strips; said at least one container body each have an endless groove and a tongue respectively provided at top and bottom sides thereof so that two container bodies can be arranged in a stack by engaging the tongue of one container body into the endless groove of the other; said cover plate has an endless groove disposed in a bottom side thereof for engagement with the tongue of one of said at least one container body.
 4. The storage container as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least one container body each comprises a plurality of side panels and a plurality of locating pins, which fasten said side panels to one another. 